| Watkins Glen, NY (June 29, 2019) – There were a number of familiar faces on the top step of the podium following Round 4 of Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America at Watkins Glen International. Three of the four class winners from Friday’s first race of the weekend earned the top spot once again as the series completed its first weekend in almost three months. After some early morning rain, the grid welcomed sunny skies and a dry track when the race started. The Pro and overall winner was once again the No. 29 Change Racing, Lamborghini Charlotte entry driven by Corey Lewis and Richy Antinucci. The pair started second and was running third for most of the first half of the race. When Antinucci jumped into the car after the mandatory pit stop, he used a terrific out lap to take control of the field. The victory was the third consecutive for the team this year, as they now hold a 16-point lead in the class. Cedric Sbirrazzuoli in the No. 27 Dream Racing, Lamborghini Dallas led the field of 19 Super Trofeo Huracan EVOs to the green flag and had a strong first half of the race as he led the field and he turned the car over to teammate Paolo Ruberti. They had to hold off the No. 1 of Andrea Amici and Sandy Mitchell from Prestige Performance/Wayne Taylor Racing, Lamborghini Paramus for second place as Amici closed the gap on Ruberti over the last few laps. When all was done, the gap was less than a second. Yesterday’s Pro-Am winner Bruno Junqueira (No. 53 Prestige Performance/Wayne Taylor Racing, Lamborghini Paramus) held the class lead and was fourth overall during his early stint. He took the lead into the pit window but following that block of time, Jacob Eidson (No. 09 US RaceTronics, Lamborghini Vancouver) assumed the lead and he continued to build on that throughout the second half of the 50-minute race as he held a comfortable lead and the team went on to their third win of the season. He and his teammate Damon Ockey now have a 23-point lead in the class heading into the next two rounds at Road America. Ryan Hardwick and Supercross star Chad Reed in the No. 22 Dream Racing, Lamborghini Atlanta were second on the podium after Reed drove a solid first stint before handing the car over. Hardwick improved their track position and finished second to make it dual podium spots for the team over the weekend. Junqueira and his teammate Bradley Baker finished third. The most drama of the race took place in the Am Class. McKay Snow (No. 63 Change Racing, Lamborghini Charlotte) was running sixth overall as he led the Am Class early in the race. Friday’s winner Steven Aghakhani (No. 6 US RaceTronics, Lamborghini Beverly Hills) was close on his heels but was involved in an incident with Paul Tracy early in the race that dropped him off the pace. While he did drop to the back of the field, the 16-year-old took his time and started to move up the overall field. With approximately 35 minutes remaining, Snow spun in Turn 5 and went into the wall. Following the incident, there was a Full Course Yellow that lasted nine minutes and also delayed the start of the pit window. With Snow now out of the race, he had one less car to pass and after the pit window closed, he quickly found himself at the lead of the class and in the top six overall. From there he easily went on to win to sweep the class on the weekend. Cameron Cassels (No. 33 Prestige Performance/Wayne Taylor Racing, Lamborghini Paramus) earned a second-place finish for the second time this season while Sheena Monk (No. 7 Dream racing, Lamborghini Palmyra) was third to make her second podium appearance of the year. Mel Johnson in the No. 08 GMG Racing, Lamborghini Newport Beach, grabbed the lead from the start in LB Cup and was never headed as he went on to win his fourth consecutive race of the year. Toward the end of the race, he held a 30-second class lead and he was close to running in the top 10 overall. Ashton Harrison and Stephanie Cemo (No. 43 Prestige Performance/Wayne Taylor Racing, Lamborghini Paramus) finished second for the second consecutive day to improve their class standing to second. Randy Sellari (No. 3 Dream Racing, Lamborghini North Los Angeles) was third, which is where he finished on Friday as well.Fans can catch all of the action from this weekend’s races on NBCSN on Wednesday, July 10 at 6 p.m. EDT. Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2019 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America championship take place on Aug. 3 and 4 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisc. Round 5 takes place on Saturday, Aug. 3 at 3:05 EDT with Round 6 scheduled for 11:55 EDT on Sunday, Aug. 4. Both of these races, as well as the balance of the 2019 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series, can be streamed live on IMSA.TV and squadracorse.lamborghini.com/live-streaming. What They Said Corey Lewis (No. 29 Change Racing, Lamborghini Charlotte) “The first stint was uneventful. We had a good start, got hit in Turn One and then fell back to third. Then the game became let’s work smarter, not harder. I let the guys up front use a little more of their tire and had a little bit more clean air. It’s a perfect weekend for us.” Richy Antinucci (No. 29 Change Racing, Lamborghini Charlotte) “It’s been an amazing weekend. I have never had a double here, but it was a team effort. The Change Racing guys worked hard to get the cars on the grid. The pit stop and Corey’s in lap to the stop is what won it today. We ran it right on the money. I had good tires in my stint and I could pull away when I needed to. What a start to the year!” Damon Ockey (No. 09 US RaceTronics, Lamborghini Vancouver) “It was a good race. We started pretty far back and I tried to be consistent to save some tires for Jake because he is the bullet. We made up a few places in the pit stop which was great and then Jake went out there and threw down some pretty fast laps.” Jacob Eidson (No. 09 US RaceTronics, Lamborghini Vancouver) “It was a great race. Usually my favorite races are the ones that are uneventful and that means that we both did a good job out there. I’m really happy and hand it to the team for giving us a great car. The car drove like a champ.” Chad Reed (No. 22 Dream Racing, Lamborghini Atlanta) “This was an awesome weekend. I had a blast. There was a lot to take on and learn but each and every time out I think I got better. Today I got the start and I woke up and it was raining, but it dried up and we started on slicks. I had a lot of fun. To be one better today was exciting. I’d love to come back to Super Trofeo. Ryan (Hardwick) was joking that now we need a P1 and my answer was ‘my weekends are free.’ We will see, but I would love to come back.” Steven Aghakhani (No. 6 US RaceTronics, Lamborghini Beverly Hills) “I had a good run at the start and during that incident contact was made but the car was still good, so I knew I had to keep pushing. I am excited for the next race. It’s been a handful (this weekend) really running with the actual Lamborghinis. There are so many different things you have to adapt to. I am just happy to be out here.” Mel Johnson (No. 08 GMG Racing, Lamborghini Newport Beach) “This weekend has been interesting and today I was able to stay ahead of everyone else and I am really happy. I got a good start today and got around some others and had a chance to put some time on the others in LB Cup. It is always fun when you win and I will take them any way I can.” |
